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Zapoticky leads West to UNICO victory

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WEST PITTSTON -- Ryan Zapoticky is an excellent quarterback. Anyone who watched Dallas play this season would attest to that.

But who knew he's a good place kicker too?

Asked to handle extra points 15 minutes before the start of the 62nd annual UNICO game Wednesday night, Zapoticky threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns -- and made four of his five PAT attempts -- to earn MVP honors and the lead the West to a 34-7 victory.

It was the West's seventh straight victory over the East.

The West was able to take advantage of four East turnovers which helped set up two scores. The East's offensive philosophy was to attack through the air while the West used more of a balanced attack, throwing the ball 15 times and running it 34.

"We got the kids fired up to play defense," said West coach Rod Azar of Tunkhannock. "We worked hard on our pass coverage because obviously they were going to come out slinging the ball all over the place, which they did."

The East got on the board first when GAR's Corey Moore connected with his regular-season teammate Lucas Benton on a 27-yard touchdown pass in the left corner of the end zone.

After the East intercepted a pass, the drive stalled on fourth down at its own 31. Eight plays later, Zapoticky hit Tunkhannock's Josh Colley on a 3-yard pass to tie game. After the West defense held on downs on the East's ensuing possession, Berwick's Jeff Steeber scored from four yards out to put the West up to stay.

In all, players from five schools scored touchdowns for the West, typifying Azar's desire to get the ball in as many players' hands as possible.

"We tried to spread the ball around," Azar said. "When you have weapons like you do for this game, it is hard to choose which way to go."

The East had an opportunity to tie the game just before the end of the first half but a fumble on the West 3-yard line with 50 seconds left ended the threat.

"It should have been 14-14 at the half," East coach Pat Reece of Holy Redeemer said. "Our defense was on the field most of the game. We had some broken coverages and mental mistakes. Overall it was a fun game. The big thing is that in six days of practice, you try to make things easy."

Zapoticky found Jason Simonovich with an 80-yard touchdown play to make it 21-7 in the third quarter. The West tacked on two scores in the fourth quarter when Joe Starinsky caught a 44-yard pass from Zapoticky before Valley West's Derrick Simms scored on a 1-yard run. Nine players from the West ran the ball while six caught passes.

"It is always the challenge to make sure everybody gets in the game and enjoys the experience," Azar said. "It is not easy but you figure out how to do it. I think we got everybody in for a good chunk of the game."